Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has worn in five new commissioners and two special advisers at the executive chambers of the Government House in Port Harcourt. Addressing the newly appointed officials on Wednesday, the governor urged them to refrain from responding, either verbally or through actions, to the provocations of his political opponents. He said the intention of his opponents is to divert his administration’s focus from achieving its set goals, saying it is important to maintain focus and dedication to the administration’s objectives. To Fubara, the appointments are made to better equip the cabinet to deliver on its promises…

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has withdrawn the Counter Subversion Bill and other related draft legislations before the House. Abbas, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, on Wednesday, said the action was in response to the voices and concerns expressed by Nigerians. LEADERSHIP learnt that the Counter Subversion Bill particularly provides that Nigerians who refuse to recite the national anthem would be liable to 10-year imprisonment, or fined N5million, or both. The bill also seeks to punish anyone who professes loyalty to an organisation that disregards the country’s…

22 more state-owned tertiary institutions have been cleared by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund to apply for student loan. “The Nigeria Education Loan Fund has announced that students from the following 22 state-owned tertiary institutions can now apply for loans on its portal: nelf.gov.ng “This followed a review by the committee responsible for the Student Verification System. Prior to this, 86 state-owned institutions were cleared, bringing a total of 108 institutions whose students are now able to apply,” the statement posted via @NELFUND on X said. The onboarding of the 22 state-owned institutions brings the total number of approved state…

The Finnish government said on Tuesday that it has started acting on the complaint by the Nigerian government against a Nigerian-Finnish citizen, Simon Ekpa, accused of leading brutal pro-Biafra secessionist campaigns in Nigeria’s South-east region. Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Elina Valtonen, said in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, during a press conference she addressed alongside her Nordic counterparts, that Mr Ekpa’s case is now before Finnish courts. “We have taken this up and discussed this with the Nigerian authorities… and the entire process is within our judicial system,” Ms Valtomen said, informing the gathering that the issue came up during…

The Ogun State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Oluwasesan Fagbayi, has said that the abundant potential in culture and tourism is rich enough to revive the country’s struggling economy. Fagbayi, in a statement on Wednesday, made this known while fielding questions from journalists at the just concluded Ekiti State Festival for Arts and Culture with the theme, ‘’Arts and Culture: A Tool for Shared Prosperity’’, at the Ekiti Parapo Pavalion, Ado Ekiti. The commissioner said, “It is glaring now that our dependency on the oil and gas sector could no longer sustain the nation’s economic development. “We have to start…

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has opposed the removal of the Tony Okocha-led caretaker committee, arguing that the Rivers State court lacks the authority to make such a decision. This reaction follows a ruling by the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt, which on Monday annulled the sacking of the Emeka Beke-led executive of the APC in Rivers State. The court, presided over by Justice Sika Aprioku, determined that the APC National Working Committee acted outside its authority by dissolving the elected executives led by Emeka Beke. Justice Aprioku stated that the National Working Committee does not have…

Kylian Mbappe is set to make his much-anticipated debut for Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup match against Atalanta on Wednesday night at the National Stadium in Warsaw. The Champions League winners will face Atalanta, who clinched the Europa League title last season. Mbappé, who joined Madrid last month and has been on a break following his participation in Euro 2024, will be eager to secure his first trophy in a Madrid jersey. Mbappé is expected to feature prominently, possibly leading the attack with support from Rodrygo and Vinícius Júnior on the wings. Jude Bellingham, despite limited pre-season action…

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida confirmed Wednesday that he will not seek re-election as head of his party next month, meaning the end of his premiership. “The most obvious first step to show that the LDP will change is for me to step aside. I will not be running in the forthcoming (party) presidential election,” Kishida told reporters, referring to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. AFP

No fewer than 12 people were reported dead on Tuesday while four others were injured in a lone crash which occurred at about 3:15 pm around Ogere along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The lone accident involved a White Mazda Bus with registration number DDA733XA. The crash was adduced to wrongful overtaking after which the bus lost control, hit the road divider, somersaulted and burst into flame. The Spokesperson for the Ogun State Sector Command, Federal Road Safety Corps, Florence Okpe, disclosed this in a statement sent to journalists on Tuesday. The injured were said to have been taken to Patmag Hospital,…

FC Bayern bids farewell to Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui as they complete their move to the Premier League with Manchester United. An X post from Bayern Munich confirmed the move on Tuesday night. It posted, “Farewell to FC Bayern: Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui have completed a move to Manchester United in the Premier League. “Thank you and all the best, Matthijs & Nous.” Meanwhile, in two posts, the English club confirmed the arrival of the new stars to the club. Also on its X handle, the EPL club announced the duo. It read,” Noussair is a…